Bands of the Household Division (United Kingdom)


The Bands of the Household Division refer to the amalgamated five military bands of the Foot Guards regiments that perform in a massed bands configuration during public duties events in London, the national capital of the United Kingdom. The bands are:
The massed bands numbers around 250 musicians who are members of the Corps of Army Music rather than the named regiments. These are on show in the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Similarly, both the Household Cavalry regiments have their own mounted bands and also their own regimental quick and slow marches.

Trooping of the Colour

The Massed Bands and Mounted Band are featured annually at Trooping the Colour. In addition to the occasional pipers that join the bands, the presence of the Bands of the Household Division totals to approximately 400 musicians. It is responsible for performing the Royal Salute, providing music for the inspection of the line, the trooping through the ranks, and the march past in slow and quick time. One of the unique roles it has is the trooping of the band. This occurs once the Queen is seated, to which the command "Troop!" is given by the Field Officer. Upon hearing the command, three strikes on a bass drum and a playing of one note by the bands give the signal for the Massed Bands to begin. Under the command of the Senior Drum Major, the Massed Bands march and countermarch on Horse Guards Parade in slow and quick time. The slow march music is traditionally the Waltz from Les Huguenots while the quick march is generally a chosen tune. During the quick march, a lone drummer from the Corps of Drums breaks away to post himself just to the right of No. 1 Guard to sound the lone drummer's eight-bar "Drummer's Call". This initiates the Trooping of the Colour phase, by means of signalling the Captain of No. 1 Guard to cede his command to the Subaltern of No. 1 Guard. The call having been sounded, the lone drummer returns to the Massed Bands.

Spinwheel

As the Escort to the Colour slow-marches down the field towards No. 6 Guard to begin their colour trooping, the massed bands perform a maneuver unique to their unit and the Royal Marines known as the anti-clockwise "spinwheel". It is a 90° turn in restricted space, and is the specific responsibility of the Garrison Sergeant Major.
Lieutenant-Colonel Rodney Bashford, Director of Music for the Grenadier Guards from 1960-1970, was quoted as saying the following about on the spinwheel:

Beating Retreat

The Beating Retreat is a massive gathering of the band's of the Household Division on Horse Guards Parade. It is based on a 16th-century military ceremony in England that was first used to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle. It is held each year, on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings preceding Trooping the Colour, with the Massed Bands, Pipes and Drums and Corps of Drums of the Household Division, supported by The King's Troop and visiting military bands from around the world.

Senior Director of Music

The first bandmaster to be commissioned was Daniel Godfrey of the Grenadier Guards, this being a personal award coming with a Jubilee Medal as part of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Honours in 1887. In the Foot Guards, personal commissions would later be granted to Lieutenant Colonel John Mackenzie Rogan and Captain Albert Williams. As a result, on 6 June 1914, the term "Director of Music" was introduced to distinguish those with a commissioned rank from warrant officers.
List of Senior Directors of Music since 1914:
NameRegimentTerm
Lieutenant Colonel John Mackenzie RoganColdstream Guards1914-1920
Captain Albert WilliamsGrenadier Guards1920-1921
Captain Frederick WoodScots Guards1921-1929
Major Andrew HarrisWelsh Guards1929-1938
Lieutenant Colonel George MillerGrenadier Guards1938-1942
Lieutenant Colonel Jiggs JaegerIrish Guards1963-1968
Major Rodney BashfordGrenadier Guards1968-1970
Lieutenant Colonel James H. HoweScots Guards1970-1975
Major Gerald HorabinIrish Guards1975-1977
Lieutenant Colonel Richard RidingsColdstream Guards1977-1985
Lieutenant Colonel Derek KimberleyGrenadier Guards1985-1987
Lieutenant Colonel Michael LaneIrish Guards1987-1989
Lieutenant Colonel Peter HannamScots Guards1989-1993
Lieutenant Colonel David PriceIrish Guards1993-2000
Lieutenant Colonel Michael LaneWelsh Guards2000-2002
Lieutenant Colonel Peter HannamScots Guards2002-2005
Lieutenant Colonel David PriceColdstream Guards2005-2007
Lieutenant Colonel Grahm JonesWelsh Guards2007-2011
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen BarnwellWelsh Guards2011-2013
Lieutenant Colonel Kevin RobertsWelsh Guards2015-2017
Lieutenant Colonel Darren WolfendaleIrish Guards2017-Present